ABOUT
In the distant future, James is the last human on Earth. He is raised and protected by a humanoid robot, the Machine, who brings him up on a strange composite religion described in a handheld device called The Manual. The Manual’s teachings fuse aspects of old-world religion and incorporate robots as spiritual beings in the afterlife, alongside and equal to humans.
The man wrestles with loneliness and depression while the search for other humans becomes more and more futile. As his faith in The Manual is shaken, he sets out to test one of The Manual’s core beliefs: reincarnation to the next life in the city of the Creator. What he finds could be described terribly as exactly that.
Role: Writer + Director + Editor
Other Credits:
EP + Producer: Sara Magness
Producer: Stacy Van Ness
DP: Kevin Fletcher
Production Designer: Nate Smith
Costume Design + Build: Melissa DiMartino & Matt Hopkins
Original Music: Kerry Smith
Title Design: Maria Janosko
Location Sound: Jebari Dean
1st AD: Dennis Brenhaug
VFX: Dan Short
Production Manager: Dawn Perkiss
Production Assistant: Phillip McGuigan
Production Assistant: Heather Magness
BOSTON UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL '19
Boston, MA.
DEEP CUT FILM FESTIVAL '18
Kitchener, Ontario.
INTERROBANG FILM FESTIVAL '18
Des Moines, IA
AWARD: Best Narrative Short
HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL '18
Los Angeles, CA.
SNAKE ALLEY FILM FESTIVAL '18
Burlington, Iowa
AWARD: Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Short
UNDERGROUND INDIE FILM FESTIVAL '18
Apopka, FL.
AWARD: Best Short Film
JUGGERNAUT SCI-FI/FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL '18
Chicago, IL
HYPERDRIVE SCI-FI / FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL '18
Hailsham, East Sussex
NOMINATION: Best Original Soundtrack
13th ANNUAL SUNSCREEN INT'L FILM FESTIVAL
St. Petersburg, FL.
MILWAUKEE TWISTED DREAMS FILM FESTIVAL '18
Milwaukee, WI.
RED DIRT FILM FESTIVAL '18
Stillwater, OK
NOMINATIONS: Best Narrative Short / Best Production Design (NATE SMITH) / Best Actor (JJ JOHNSTON)
HORRORHOUND FILM FESTIVAL '18
Indianapolis, IN.
NOMINATION: Best Actor (JJ JOHNSTON)
10th ANNUAL TRENTON FILM FESTIVAL
Trenton, NJ
5th ANNUAL PASADENA INT'L FILM FESTIVAL
Pasadena, CA.
NOMINATION: Best Short Film
10th ANNUAL GENEVA FILM FESTIVAL
Geneva, IL.
20th ANNUAL SPOKANE INT'L FILM FESTIVAL
Spokane, WA
AWARDS: Best Short Film / Best NW Short / Most Promising Filmmaker
TAMPA BAY UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL '17
Tampa Bay, FL.
AWARDS: Best Short Film / Best Sci-Fi Film / Audience Choice Award / Best Short Film Director / Best Visual Effects / Best Supporting Actress
14th ANNUAL ROME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Rome, GA.